Electrical connector



April 6, 1954 J. H. HURLBUT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 19, 1951 INVENTOR JolmHQ/nry Hurlb U13 wam My ATTORNEYi April 6,1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEYL John HenryHuklbufi Gama 4070,

m 1 7 m 6 o 69 8 swsswwmw 9 \rl, 6 1w? .11" F I 1 M k w 6 M? s a? uPatented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORJohn H. Hurlbut, Washington, D. C.

Application April 19, 1951, Serial No. 221,869

9 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to an improved electrical connector structurewhich is designed to eliminate many of the shortcomings of conventionalelectric connectors and in which the plug is self-aligning within thesocket. The invention further contemplates the provision of an improvedplug and socket of novel shape and structure.

Conventional electric connectors or plugs are normally provided with twoflat contacts which must be aligned with two corresponding female slotsbefore the plug can be inserted into the socket. It is difficult to forma proper connection with the conventional plug when light conditions arepoor or when the socket is located in an inaccessible position.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a plug andsocket structure wherein the plug may be readily and easily insertedinto the socket despite the position of the socket and in which the plugis self-aligning.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improvedelectric plug and socket structure wherein a perfect electricalconnection will be formed readily and in which the male plug will make atight and strong connection with the female socket.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved, flattenedshape for the plug and socket and improved spring contacts therefor.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as thisspecification proceeds.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a plug and socketstructure formed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the plug and socket structures;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the male plug member showing the upper andlower disc portions thereof and the novel spring contact members whichare fitted therebetween;

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged and detailed perspective view of one of the twospring contact or conductor members showing the manner of attaching theterminal end of one of the feed wires thereto;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view taken from above I of the male plug memberin position for insertion into the female socket member;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of themale plug and socket members showing the male plug member partiallyinserted into the socket member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of this embodiment of the invention with themale plug partially inserted into the female socket;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of this embodiment of the invention showingthe upper and lower disc segments of the plug with the spring conductorstherefor disposed therebetween in position for insertion therein and thecap structure I for maintaining the two halves of the male plug inposition over the spring conductors;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of a terminal socketstructure for receiving a plurality of the improved male plugs;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of an adaptersocket structure for use with the conventional type of pronged andslotted electric plug and socket structure; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the improved plug and socket structureas adapted for use in a base board or analogous structure.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the improved plug andsocket structure is illustrated. The male plug I5 is preferably formedof two identical discs of hard rubber, plastic or other dielectricmaterial which are closely fitted together over the spring conductormembers. Plug 15 is preferably of flattened elliptical shape, taperingto a tongue-shaped point at its lower extremity and more fully roundedat its upper extremity. The two halves or discs of plug 15 arepreferably identical in shape and are so formed as to be interchangeablewith each other, as follows. Upper and lower discs l6 and ll of plug I5are preferably shouldered about their lateral edges and aresubstantially recessed through-out their medial portions, as shown. Theyare provided at their upper extremities with an inwardly widened slot orduct l8 through which the feed electric wire is passed to make contactwith spring conductors l9, which are identical and which will besubsequently described in detail. Longitudinally disposed along themedian lines of plug discs l6 and H is a central boss 20 which as shownextends substantially from the lower tip of the disc to a point adjacentand just below the inner enlarged extremity of duct [8. Central boss 20is preferably shaped not unlike an arrow with its angular head portiondisposed within the lower enlarged portion of duct [8. Slots 23 and 24are provided adjacent the lower extremity of boss 20 and between it andcurved shoulder 22 which extends about the tip of the disc in anelliptical curve, as shown. Upstanding shoulder segments 25 and 26 areprovided adjacent the lateral median edges of discs l6 and I! and areseparated from the curved tip shoulder 22 and the upper shoulderedsection thereof by suitable angular slots disposed at an acute angle toeach other and designed to freely receive the lateral portions of springconductors l9, as will hereinafter be discussed in more detail. Curvedrecesses 27 and 28 are preferably provided in the upper shoulderedportions of discs It and I! and are disposed laterally of and below thelower expanded edges of duct 18 adjacent the two angular walls of head2! of central boss 20. Curved recesses 21 and 28 are designed to receivethe upper angular extremitiesof spring conductors I9 with the terminalends-of the feed wires inserted and clamped therein, as will hereinafterbe further discussed.

Discs I6 and I! are provided respectively with a rectangular upstandingstud 29 and a corresponding rectangular recess 30 to enable the two discportions I6 and I! of the plug structure to be closely locked together.If desired, an appropriate bore may be made through discs I6 and ii,preferably as at the centers of boss heads 2i to receive a bolt and nutto provide an even more positive connection therebetween.

Spring conductors I9 are preferably formed of fiat, resilient conductivemetal and are preferably tapered at their lower extremities 32 andsmoothly outwardly curved to provide lateral curved segments 33, fromwhence they are again inwardly curved to their upper extremities 3t andthen are bent back upon themselves to provide angular tip portions 35.Angular slots 36 and 3? are preferably provided, respectively adjacentthe outer extremity of tip 54 and the inner extremity of angular end 35.t will be seen from Fig. 4 that slot 36 is preferably downwardly andinwardly inclined at an angle of approximately 45 in the upper edge oftip 34, while slot 3? is preferably similarly inclined in the lower edgeof tip 35. It will further be seen from Fig. 4 that the extremity of tip35 is preferably bent outwardly at an acute angle.

In assembling male plug structures I5 the terminal extremities of feedwires 39 and 40 are first stripped of insulation for an appreciabledistance sufficient to allow insertion of the stripped ends of the wiresinto slot 37 of angular tip 35 and then through and up into slot 35 ofspring conductors I9. With the extremities of feed wires 39 and 40firmly in position within slots 35 and 31 the tapered lower extremities32 of spring conductors I9 are inserted into slots 23 and 24 of the basedisc I! with the curved portions 33 of spring conductors I9 disposedoutwardly around shoulders 25 and 26 of the base disc I1. The upperangular extremities .35 are pressed back upon the upper portion ofspring conductors is and are fitted firmly and positively within theupper circular portions of recesses 21 and 28, head 2| of boss 20 actingto positively separate feed wires 39 and 40 adjacent the lower extremityof duct I8. The lower portions of recesses 2i and 28 are provided toreceive the ends of feed wires 39 and 49, as shown in Fig. 1. Withspring conductors I9 firmly in position in base disc I'i, as aforesaid,upper disc I6 is fitted firmly over lower disc Ii and spring conductorsI9 and is pressed downwardly thereon, stud 29 and slot 30 of base disc II registering with the corresponding slot and stud of upper disc I6.With the plug structure so assembled an appropriate bolt may be insertedthrough the bore in the discs and a nut applied to its extremity to holdthe discs in close fitting contact.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the curved outer extremity 33of spring conductors i 9 extends outwardly from the plug body aroundshoulders 25 and 26 and that the lower terminal ends 32 of springconductors 19 preferably do not extend fully to the lower extremities ofslots 23 and 25, a space being provided in the lower extremities ofslots 23 and 24 to allow a downward sliding movement of extremities 32of spring conductors I9 when inward presurse is exerted on the curvedouter portions 33 thereof.

Discs I6 and ll of plug I5 are preferably provided about their upperouter peripheries with a shoulder M to provide a closer and morepositive fit with the upper peripheral edge of the socket member.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that female socket 43,formed of suitable dielectric material is preferably provided in baseplate 44 and is so shaped as to form a close fit with the lower, taperedtongue portion of plug !5 when plug I5 is fully inserted therein. Socket53 is preferably also of flattened, elliptical. shape and tapersdownwardly to a rounded lower extremity in which the tip of male plug I5closely. Socket 43 is provided adjacent its upper lateral extremitieswith suitable contact orifices 45 and 4.6 below which are disposedshoulders f-i and 38 which are appropriately bored and threaded at theirlower extremities to receive spring contact screws 49 and 50. Curvedspring contact members 5! and 52 are disposed outwardly over contactorifices 45 and 46 and are held firmly thereover by means of screws 49and 50. Spring con-- tacts 5i and 52 are preferably provided with lower,rectangular extremities 53 and 5d which bear against shoulders 41 and 43and are appropriately bored to receive screws 49 and 59. At their upperextremities they are curved outwardly and extend upwardly to bearagainst the upper lateral edges of sockets 43 at points above the upperedges of contact orifices 45 and d5.

It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that the upper lateral edges ofsocket 43 are preferably angularly slotted or grooved at points 55 and56 to provide an entering slot or guide for the lateral curved segments33 of spring conductors it of plug I5, to assist in the entry of pluginto socket 43 and to eliminate excessive compression of springconductors I9 at the point of entry.

Laterally disposed about socket .3 and preferably formed integral withbase plate 45 is flattened elliptical socket housing .51 which is openat its lower extremity and is provided about socket 43 to cover andprotect spring contacts iii and 52 and the points of juncture of wires58 and with contact screws 49 and 56. It will be appreciated thatcontact between wires 58 and 59 and screws 49 and 50 is made byloosening the screws, wrapping the terminal extremities of wires 53 and59 about the screw shanks and then tightening the screws in shoulders4'! and 48.

If desired, an elliptical shouldered cover 5'? may be provided, shapedto fit upwardly over the lower extremities of socket housing 5'. andcarrying a hole or bore in its center to permit passage of wires 58 and59 therethrough. This cover would afford further protection. to contacts5! and 52 and contact screws 49 and 59. The lower edge of housing 51 maybe provided with a flange to assist in holding this cover in position.

In this embodiment applicant has provided a plug and socket structure inwhich the plug will automatically align itself as it is forceddownwardly in socket 43, spring contacts I9 will be forced inwardlythrough shoulders 33, with the terminal extremities of conductors I9sliding downwardly in slots 23 and 24 until the outer curved portions 33of conductors it have passed the upper shoulders of socket 43 and expandoutwardly into contact orifices 45 and it to make firm and positivecontact with curved spring contacts 5i and 52 of socket 43.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 6, 7and 8 of the drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail. Theembodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprisesthree parts, i. e., identical upper and lower discs I6 and I J andspring conductors I9 disposed therebetween. The alternative embodimentof the invention comprises upper enemas and lower discs? and 61, springcontacts 62 and a cap member '63 designed to maintain the "entirestructure in a unitary condition upon assembly. Discs 60 and :61:areidentical structure and are interchangeable, therefore only one ofthe twodiscs will be discussed indetail.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that disc 6| comprises broadly aflattened, outwardly curved and downwardly tapered member formed of asuitable dielectric material, 1. "e., hard rubber, plastic orothersuitable material, and is preferablyshouldered about its lower tipportion at 65 to provide .a central cavity through which islongitudinally disposed a narrow boss t l which divides the cavityportion into two equal sections. Boss 64 preferably widens toward itslower extremity, angular slots 66 and't-i being provided between theendof boss 64 and tip shoulder 65. Medial shoulders '68 and $9 arepreferably provided between tip shoulder 65 and the upper shoulderedextremities of disc 6| and define angular slots therebetween designed tofreely receive the lateral edges of spring conductor 62.

An enlarged angular head boss it! is preferably provided at the upperend o fboss s l and extends laterally across the upper portion of disc:61 to within an appreciable distance to its upper peripheralextremities, spaces ll and it being provided between the lateral edgesof boss is and the outer edges of disc 6 for a purpose hereinafter to bemore fully discussed. Angular slots i3 and 14 are provided adjacent thelower angular extremities of boss 'Hl, connecting the central cavitiesof disc 6! with lateral spaces H and 12.

Spring contacts 62 are preferably formed of any high conductive,resilient metal and as shown comprise two elongated tapered lowerextremi ties 15 above which they are outwardly and angularly curved toprovide outwardly curved contact surfaces 76, above which theyarebrought in closely together to'provide a constricted por tion 11 fromwhich they again curve outwardly to terminate in outwardly extending,substantially parallel arm portions 18. Arm portions 18 are preferablyprovided at their inner extremities with a series of small and sharpenedpenetrating points 5 9. Points 19 are designed to penetrate theinsulation of wire sections upon assembly of the plug and to formcontact between conductors S2 and the feed wires iii] and ti.

As illustrated, the upper, outer extremities of discs 6i! and El areappropriately shouldered and grooved about their outer peripheries at 82and 83 to provide a firm seating "for assembly cap 63.

Cap 63 is also formed or molded of a suitable dielectric material and asshown is interiorly shaped to conform closely to the upper configurationof discs fill and El when the two are applied together. Cap 63 bears asuitable raised boss or ring so about its lower inner periphery whichring is designed to closely fit into groove 83 of discs to and ill whencap 63 is forced downwardly thereover.

In assembling the plug structure the following procedure is followed:tapered extremities 15 of spring conductors 62 are first inserted intoslots 65 and 6'! disposed at the lower extremity of disc ill, theoutwardly curved portions T6 of -conductors 62 freely fitting overshoulders 63 and 69 and extending outwardly therefrom, the angularportions of conductors 62 fitting respectively through slots 13 and 14of disc 6-! with the upper, pointed extremities T8 of the conductorsextending outwardly from spaces 'H and l! at an acute angle thereto.'With the conductors in primary posi- 'tion in disc 6| wires and 81 arelaid in spaces H and 12 of 'disc 6!, bearing against the upper lateralwalls of boss 10. Extremities it of conductors .62 are then forcedinwardly against wires 80 and SI until points 79 have penetrated theinsulation thereof and made contact with the wires. At this point upperdisc til is fitted firmly o'ver lower disc BI and cap 63 is then slippeddownwardly over the tops of both discs until its inner peripheral ring84 seats firmly in peripheral groove 83. In this position the outercurved extremities 16 of spring conductors 62 extend outwardly anappreciable distance from the peripheral walls of the tongue of the plugaround shoulders 68 and 69 and in such position that they willresiliently resist efforts to force them inwardly.

The socket 86 of this embodiment of the invention is similar to thesocket structure previously described in connection with the firstembodiment and comprises broadly a downwardly tapered, flattened femalemember formed integral with an appropriate base plate 8'! of suitabledielectric material and corresponding closely in shape to the shape ofthe lower extremity of the plug member. Socket S6 is provided withsuitable shoulders 68 adjacent its lateral edges, above which shouldersare provided contact orifices 89 and 99 over which spring contactmembers 9| and 92 are closely fitted. Spring contact members GI and 92are preferably rectangularly bent at their lower extremities andappropriately bored to receive contact screws 93 and 94 which hold themfirmly in position adjacent the lateral extremities of socket 86.Contact spring 9! and 92 are outwardly curved over contact orifices 3dand 9'0 and the upper extremities thereof preferably bear against theshouldered exterior edges of socket 86 above contact orifices 8i and 90.Screws 93 and 9 5 also provide a firm contact between wires 95 and 95and spring contacts 5! and 92.

As shown in Fig. 6, appropriate angular slots or ramps 9'! and 98 arepreferably provided at the upper lateral edges of socket at to providean entering path for the curved extremities it of spring conductors 62when the male plug is inserted into the socket 85. It will be furthernoted that when the male plug is forced downwardly into socket 556spring contacts 552 are in wardly compressed until the shoulder portionsof the socket above the contact orifices 89 and have been passed bycurved portions l5, at which point spring contacts 52 spring outwardly,forcing curved portions it into close contact with contact springs 9!and 92 of socket 86.

A flattened eliptical guard or housing fill is preferably provided andmade integral with base plate ill about socket 86. Guard 99 is open atits lower extremity and surrounds socket 86 in such fashion that accessmay be had from below to contact screws 93 and M for the purpose ofattaching wires and d5 thereto. A centrally bored, elliptical cover 99'may be provided to fit up over the bottom extremity of housing 99, aboutwires es and Elli, if desired.

Suitable adaptors or terminal plugs for either embodiment of theinvention are shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The embodiment shown in Fig. 9 isfor a female structure to be applied to the end of a feed wire and asshown carries three female sockets which are suitably cross-connectedtherewithin to the terminal end of the feed wire. These sockets areidentical in structure to those previously described.

The adaptor shown in Fig. 10 is designed to make the plug and socketstructure of the present invention adaptable for use in conjunction withthe conventional tongue and slot plug structures and as shown the femalesockets in this embodiment of the invention are appropriatelycross-connected to provide six outlets for the plug structures.

The advantages inherent in the present connector structures aremanifold. Both embodiments of the male plug may be rapidly disassembledfor insertion of the extremities of the feed wires and in neitherembodiment are any screws or other type of extraneous connectorsnecessary.

In the first embodiment of the invention the terminal end of the wire irfirmly clamped in slots 36 and 31 and the angular extremity 35 of theresilient conductor is then forced downwardly over the wire segment andis clamped between the upper interior walls of the base disc in recesses21 and 28, providing a positive and permanent connection which issubstantially un' breakable.

In the second embodiment an equally positive connection between theterminal extremities of the resilient conductors 62 and the feed Wiresis formed by means of the points 19 and peripheral spaces H and 12 ofthe upper boss of the disc. In this embodiment of the invention as cap63 is forced downwardly over discs 60 and 6! pointed extremities 18 ofconductors 62 are forced inwardly against wires an and 8|, points 79penetrating the insulation of the wires to complete the contact.

It will be noted further that due to the internal configuration of thediscs in both embodiments of the invention sufficient interior space isprovided in both of the male plugs to accommodate the necessarycompression of the spring conductor members during insertion of the maleplug into the female socket. Furthermore, due to the novel internalconfiguration of the discs of each of the male plugs and the novelconfiguration of the spring conductor members these spring conductormembers are maintained between the discs of the plug members withoutscrews or any extraneous holding means. Some compression of the springconductor member is necessary to insert them into either embodiment ofthe male plug and this compression serves to hold the spring conductorsfirmly in fixed bearing relationship therein.

The internal configuration of the discs of both embodiments of the maleplug structure is of the essence of the present invention. Bothstructures resulted from lengthy experimentation to evolve the bestpractical internal structure which would provide a firm and stableseating for the resilient conductors and yet at the same time wouldprovide suflicient internal space for the necessary compression thereofduring insertion of the male plug into the socket.

Attention is further directed to the manner of attaching the terminalends of the wires to the angular extremity of spring conductor [9 in thefirst embodiment of the invention. The problem was to provide a strongand positive holding contact between the end of the wire and theextremity of the conductor within a very restricted space in the upperportion of the plug. The problem was solved by providing the bent backextremity 35 with angular slot 31 disposed in the lower outer edge andcomplementary offline slot 36 disposed in the upper inner edge. Byjogging these slots and by making them angular it was possible toprovide a permanent binding connection for the extremity of the wirewhich occupied little space and yet which gave an absolutely positiveconnection and one which would not break. The angular tip 35 at theterminal extremity of conductor 33 is provided to fit under the loweredge of boss 2| to further stabilize the assembly.

The terminal assembly shown in the second embodiment of the invention,wherein the resilient angular extremities of resilient conductors 62 areprovided internally with points 19, was also evolved due to thenecessity for providing a positive and strong connection in a restrictedspace.

The plug and socket structures of the present invention obviate many ofthe deficiencies of conventional structures. The plug may be readilyinserted in the socket regardless of its position and in the dark. Thetapered elliptical shape of the extremity of the plug and the novelsocket structure provide an automatic alignment therebetween as soon asthe plug is inserted in the socket.

A positive and strong contact is evolved between the plug and socketwhich is practically impossible to break on a straight pull but whichmay readily be released by forcing the male plug slightly to one side orthe other to compress the spring contact on that side, prior towithdrawal.

The invention is susceptible to numerous alternative embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. For example, the plug structure maybe adapted to the male extremities of light bulbs or analogouselectrical fixtures. Adaptations of the invention may, in fact, beutilized wherever it is desired to obtain a strong, positive and readilyconnected electrical fixture.

Attention is directed to the appended claims for a limitation of thescope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical connector structure, a flattened and tapered lowerplug disc, 2. boss extending longitudinally and medially of said discand defining two identical recesses within said disc, a shoulder aboutthe edges of said disc provided with lateral and terminal slots and withcurved recesses at its upper extremity, outwardly and inwardly curvedspring conductor members fitted within said terminal slots and saidcurved recesses in said disc on opposite sides of said central boss andextending outwardly at their curved medial extremities from the lateraledges of said disc through said lateral slots, an identical disc fittedover said lower disc and over said spring conductors and means formaintaining said discs in close contact with each other.

2. In an electrical connector structure, a flattened elliptical lowerplug disc, a central boss extending longitudinally of said disc anddefining identical recesses within said disc, an upstanding shoulderabout the edges of said disc around said recesses and provided withlateral and terminal slots and with. curved recesses at its upperextremity, curved spring conductor members re movably fitted within saiddiscin said terminal slots and said curved recesses on opposite sides ofsaid central boss and extending outwardly therefrom at their curvedmedial edges through said lateral slots, an identical disc fitted oversaid lower disc and said spring conductors and means for maintainingsaid discs in close contact with each other.

- 3; In an electrical connector structure, a fiattened ellipticalrecessed plug disc, a central boss extending longitudinally of said discand defining two identical recesses therewithin, a peripheral shoulderabout the edges of said disc around said recesses, lateral and terminalslots in said shoulder, curved recesses in said shoulder adjacent theupper extremity of said boss, curved spring conductors removably fittedwithin said disc on opposite sides of said central boss in said terminalslots and said curved recesses and extending outwardly from said disc attheir medial edges through said lateral slots, an identical disc fittedover said lower disc and said spring conductors and means formaintaining said discs in close contact with each other.

4. In an electrical connector structure, a fiattened, downwardly taperedhollow plug disc, a central boss extending longitudinally on the medianline of said disc and defining two identi cal recesses therewithin, aperipheral shoulder about the edges of said disc around said recesses,lateral and terminal slots in said shoulder, curved recesses in saidshoulder at its upper extremity on opposite sides of said boss, mediallycurved and recurved flat spring conductors removably fitted within saiddisc within said terminal slots and said curved recesses on oppositesides of said central boss and extending outwardly therefrom at theircentral curved extremities through said lateral openings, an identicaldisc fitted over said lower disc and said spring conductors and meansfor holding said discs in close contact.

5. In an electrical connector structure, an el liptical flattened lowerplug disc, a central boss extending longitudinally of said disc anddefining two identical recesses therewithin, an angular head provided atone extremity of said boss, angular slots provided adjacent the otherextremity of said boss, a peripheral shoulder about the edges of saiddisc and provided with paired openings adjacent its lateral extremitiesand with an inwardly extending groove at its forward extremity andcurved recesses disposed laterally thereof, outwardly curved springconductor members fitted at their lower extremities into said angularslots and extending outwardly of said disc body through said pairedopenings, angular slotted upper extremities on said conductors toreceive the extremities of feed wires passed through said groove andfitting into said curved recesses in said shoulder, an identicalupperplug disc fitted over said lower disc and said spring conductorsand an elliptical flattened socket designed to closely fit the extremityof said plug and provided with laterally disposed contacts registeringwith the curved outer extremities of said spring conductors when saidplug is fitted in said socket.

6. In an electrical connector structure, an elliptical, flattened lowerplug disc, a central boss extending longitudinally of said disc anddefining two identical recesses within said disc, a. tapered headprovided at one extremity of said boss, angular slots provided adjacentthe other extremity of said boss, a peripheral shoulder upstanding aboutthe edges of said disc and provided adjacent its lateral extremitieswith paired openings, curved spring conductor members fitted at theirextremities into said angular slots and extending outwardly of said discbody through said paired openings, angular slotted upper extremities onsaid conductors to receive the extremities of feed wires and fittinginto curved recesses in the upper extremity of said disc, an identicalupper plug disc fitted over said lower disc and 10 said springconductors and an elliptical flattened socket structure designed toclosely fit the extremity of said plug structure and carrying laterallydisposed contacts registering with the curved outer extremities of saidspring conductors when said plug is inserted in. said socket.

7. In an electric connector, a lower elliptical disc, a central bossextending longitudinally of said disc and providing identical internalrecesses therewithin, pairs of laterally disposed slots communicatingbetween said internal recesses and the exterior of said disc, a taperedslot disposed in the upper extremity of said disc adjacent th extremityof. said boss, curved spring conductor members fitted into the interiorof said disc and extending outwardly thereof through said laterallydisposed slots, angular slotted upper extremities on said conductors toreceive feed wires inserted through said tapered slot, an iden ticalupper disc fitted over said lower disc and said spring conductors andheld rigidly but removably thereover and a corresponding socket carryinglateral spring contacts designed to receive said plug and form anelectrical connection with the outward extensions of said springconductors.

8. In an electrical connector structure, a fiattened elliptical lowerplug disc, a central boss extending longitudinally of said disc anddefining two identical recesses therewithin, a peripheral shoulder aboutthe edges of said disc provided with lateral and terminal openings,curved spring conductor members fitted within said disc on oppositesides of said central boss and extending outwardly therefrom at theirmedial edges through said lateral openings, feed wires attached to saidcurved spring conductors and passing through said terminal opening, anidentical upper plug disc fitted over said lower disc and saidconductors and an elliptical flattened socket designed to closely fitsaid plug and provided with laterally disposed spring contactsregistering with the outer extremities of said spring conductors whensaid plug is inserted in said socket.

9. In an electrical connector structure, a fiattened and tapered lowerplug disc, a boss extending longitudinally and medially of said disc anddefining two identical recesses within said disc, a shoulder about theedges of said disc provided with lateral and terminal slots, outwardlycurved spring conductor members fitted within said disc on oppositesides of said central boss and extending outwardly from the lateraledges of said disc through said lateral slots, an identical disc fittedover said lower disc and over said spring conductors and a flattenedhollow cap fitting over the upper extremities of said discs and holdingthem in close contact with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 808,097 Lawrence, Jr. Dec. 26, 1905 1,166,349 Goodridge Dec.28, 1915 1,317,548 Casper Sept. 30, 1919 2,235,535 Saunders Mar. 18,1941 2,310,024 Frank et al. Feb. 2, 1943 2,356,752 Deysher Aug. 29, 19442,398,634 Geers et al Apr. 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date678,913 Germany July 24, 1939

